DramaActionWar

Too Late the Hero

- War. It's a dying business.

A WWII film set on a Pacific island. Japanese and allied forces occupy different parts of the island. When a group of British soldiers are sent on a mission behind enemy lines, things don't go exactly to plan. This film differs in that some of the 'heroes' are very reluctant, but they come good when they are pursued by the Japanese who are determined to prevent them returning to base.

Release Date : 1970-05-20

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : ABC PicturesThe Associates & Aldrich CompanyPalomar Pictures International

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Pvt. Tosh Hearne

Original Name : Michael Caine

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. Sam Lawson

Original Name : Cliff Robertson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pvt. Jock Thornton

Original Name : Ian Bannen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Col. Thompson

Original Name : Harry Andrews

Gender : Male

Character Name : Captain Hornsby

Original Name : Denholm Elliott

Gender : Male

Character Name : Private Campbell

Original Name : Ronald Fraser

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cpl. McLean

Original Name : Lance Percival

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sgt. Johnstone

Original Name : Percy Herbert

Gender : Male

Character Name : C/Sgt.

Original Name : Sam Kydd

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sgt. Major

Original Name : Patrick Jordan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pvt. Currie

Original Name : William Beckley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pvt. Griffiths

Original Name : Martin Horsey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pvt. Connolly

Original Name : Don Knight

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pvt. Scott

Original Name : Harvey Jason

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pvt. Riddle

Original Name : Roger Newman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pvt. Rafferty

Original Name : Michael Parsons

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soldier

Original Name : William Ross

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pvt. Rogers

Original Name : Sean MacDuff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ensign

Original Name : Frank Webb

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. John G Nolan

Original Name : Henry Fonda

Gender : Male

Character Name : Major Yamaguchi

Original Name : 高倉健

Gender : Male

Character Name : Japanese Soldier

Original Name : きくち英一

Gender : Male

Character Name : Unnamed Japanese Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Ito

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

***WW2 jungle warfare*** In 1942 the Brits have a base at the southern tip of a Jap-held island in the Philippines; a unit is sent on a mission with an American Lieutenant (Cliff Robertson) to take down the radio at the northern end of the isle. Michael Caine plays a troublesome private while Denholm Elliott is on hand as the leader of the patrol. In tone and story, “Too Late the Hero” (1970) is similar to “Ambush Bay” (1966); other comparable flicks include “The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) and “Beach Red” (1967). Of course “Kwai” is superior, but “Too Late” ain’t no slouch. I had a bad attitude during the first half because of some unrealistic scenes. I’m no veteran of jungle warfare, but I’m pretty sure you shouldn’t be blithely singing songs or loudly talking while traversing jungle trails in enemy territory, especially when it has already been established that Japs could be anywhere. Also, if you’re going to take a nap, wouldn’t it be hidden in the forest undergrowth rather than in a wide open meadow near a trail? Also, am I the only one to find the Jap loudspeaker unit a little unlikely? If you can get past these kinds of eye-rolling flaws, “Too Late the Hero” becomes a gripping and suspenseful Pacific War movie with quality characterizations about a small group of reluctant heroes sweating it out in the jungle and fighting amongst themselves. Even the Jap commander is interesting and unpredictable. The ending is memorable, even iconic; and you don’t know who survives until the final moments. The film runs 2 hours, 13 minutes and was shot in Malay, Aklan, Philippines. GRADE: B

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-06-03

Cliff Robertson is "Lawson", an American soldier drafted in to lead a squad of war-weary British soldiers on a jungle mission to destroy a Japanese radio transmitter. It isn't that his men are in any way cowardly, but with Michael Caine's "Tosh" foremost amongst them, they are disillusioned at the relentlessness of it all. What do they do that ever makes a difference? The film comes alive as the troop must try to evade their pursuing enemy - and all of their dastardly mantraps and psychological warfare - to return to safety of their outpost. The acting from the two leading men, along with some gritty and plausible contributions from stalwarts Ian Bannen and Ronald Fraser amongst others; some angry but focussed dialogue and the claustrophobic nature of their surroundings all lend well to this solidly paced and characterful war story that shows just what can be achieved when a team pull together - in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.